Improvement in the construction of prisons



ssh'eefS-Lsheeu.; vB. CO0K`1.' w. HEATH. Construction of Prisons.

. Paltnnted Sept.28,l87v5.

f iter-n eys ,En ,Fl

' INVENITons.

WITNEssEs 3 Sheets--Sheet 3. HEATH.'

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clnstructiun of Prisons.

Patented Sept.v28, 18.75.

No.lmsz.

TLG. "1.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT QEEICE.

JAMES B. cooKANn JAMES w. HEATmoE MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

InuPRoviaMl-:NT iN T'HscoNsTR'uc-rlon oF PalsoNs.

. f l Specification formingl part of Letters Patent No. 168,232, dated September 28, 1875 application tiled Aprueaievtq To all whomtt may concern:

13e it known `that we, JAMES B'. UOQK and' JAMES WILSON HEATH, both of Memphis, i-n the county 'ot' Shelby and State of Tennessee,

. have'invented certain new and useful Improvements inthe Construction of Prisons, of which the following is a specilication:

In orderl to prevent the escape of prisoners, and to cause the detection of any attempt at vescape, we construct the walls, floors, ceilings,

'oi-roofs, or all ot them', hollow, or employ in connection. therewitha hollow lining, and till the space in saidl hollow Walls, oors. ceilings, roofs, or linings with abody ot sand, gravel,

terial, we employ, in connection with the hollow walls,'loors, ceilings, or linings, hoppers to contain vany necessary supply ot' the loose or mobile-filling material, which will thus be adapted to take the place ot' `that which may flow out through an opening, so as to keep the.

spaces constantly full.

The invention furtherconsist-s in combining, with the double plates or sh--lls ot' hollow walls orwall-linin gs constructed for the reception ot' ainobile filling, as specified, flanged or groovedA pillars or standards, wit-hin which plates of metal, wood, or other material are inserted without the use of bol-ts or rivets, as hereinafter described.

The invention further consists in constructin g'thestandards or frames in lattice or other yopen form, so as t6 provide communication between the chambers within the walls or walllinings. In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional elevation of a vdouble wall with a filling of loose material-illustrating the invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of a corner of a building, showing external walls'of brick,bulkheading of wood, angcd or grooved standards, metallic plates* set in such stand-` ards ,next to the bulkheading, a double thick# ness r'of 4wood on the inner face, and a body ot' loose or mobile material interposed between the wooden facings and the metallic plates.

Fig. 3 visa` horizontal section, illustrating a modification, the face of the wall being made of metal, and the .back of the space or chamber of two thicknesses ot' wood running inopposite directions. Fig. 4 is a vertical section, illustrating the hoppers formed lin the root' for the supply of mobile material, the lattice form of the frames or Standards, and the chain bered ceilings. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the structure shown inFig. 4, the cutting-plane being within the root'. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of a corner ot' a building, illustrating the application ofthe nven tion to structures where metal is 'entirely dispensed with. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section, showing the combination of metallic flanged or grooved frames or standards and wooden plates secured therein against a bulkheading ot' wood. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section of another modification. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section, illustrating a modification in the illing material.

A A represent the main walls of a prison, which may be made of brick or stone. B represents a llin g, preferably ofsand angl gravel and broken stone, occupying the entire space in the-double walls A A, (shown in Fig. 1,) or Iin the wally-linings described below. U, in Figs. 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, represeuts'a bulkheading of woodinterposed between the walls and the internal wall-linings.

Iu Fig. 2 the wall-linings are shownas made up of metallic plates D next to the bulkheading G,and wooden sheathing E in two thickn esses, the grain preferably running in di'l'er-A ent directions, the said plates D-and sheathing E being inserted within the groove of the standards F, which are adapted to receive and hold them, as shown. This mode ot' putting the parts together dispensesy with the-necessity of bolting or riveting.

One of the grooved standards is rst placed in position. The edges of the plates of metal or wood are then inserted in the edge grooves.

The next: standard is then placed on the free edges ot' the plates.

so on from one corner of the structure to the next. When a corner is reached the plates are prepared of the necessary width to completely-lill it, and the whole is firmly wedged or driven home to'close all the joints, the last plates and standards serving to keep the Whole The second set of plates is then inserted, then another standard, and

and mobile llingB is also introduced.

in position. The last or key plates are fitted and'inserted, as above described, at each door or opening. v

In Fi g.l .3, A. may 'represente external walls,l of wood, for a prison of. cheap construction; and Gfa sheathing of two thicknesses of wood applied to the inner face thereof, the sheathing being arranged with the grain in diierent directions. H Irepresents wooden studs or stanchions. I are facing-plates, of metal, secured to the stanchions Figs. 4 and 5 show external walls A, bulkheadings C, metallic liningplates D, and wooden facings E, substantially as in Fig. 2; and Fig; 4 represents also the lattice or other open construction of the ilanged standards.F. J may represent a thin partition-wall. Fig. 4 also shows a portion of the roof K, and hollow oors and ceilingsLM, between which the loose The space between the slope of the roof K and the vertical walls A constitutes hoppers N, or the reception of any necessary quantity of mobile lling materia-l to maintain the supply, so that the spaces withinthe hollow walls, wall-linin gs, floors, or ceilings maybe kept constantly full.

The structure shown in Fig. 6 is similar in all essential respects, excepting tb at the flan ged standards F are dispensed with and wooden stanchions are substituted therefor, a single sheathing, D,being applied next to the bulkheading, and a double. facing, E, to form the innershell of the hollow lining, whichppptajps the mobile filling B. o Fig. 7 represents the use of the flanged or grooved standards F, in connection with wooden sheathing D and E on both sides of the chamber containing the mobile filling B. Fig. 8 showsa similar structure with the sheathing D double. Fig. 9 is a sectional view, illustrating the use of roundshot or iron balls to constitute the loose and mobile lilling B.

The invention in its simple form (represented in Fig. 1) is applicable to the construction of the walls of jail-yards, and the external lwallsj of jail-buildings whereA the cells constitute a separate inner structure. The construction of hollow walls, ceilings, and floors affords theV greatest facility for the introduction of hot-air and Ventilating dues. Such walls also constitute superior non-conductors of heat, rendering the buildings cooler in summer and warmer in winter. rEhe sand-lilling constitutes itself a valuable non-conductor, and by'thisfunction is of great value inthe application of the inof 'thelcose m'obilejilling'of the hollow walls,

floors, and ceilings. f

In aprison constructed or provided, as above described, with hollow walls or wall-linings and hollow iloors and ceilings, it will be manifestly impossible for a prisoner 4to effect his escape by puncturing either the wall, floor, or ceiling, and impossible for him to attempt such escape without the attempt being immediately frustrated and detected. The first effect of a puncture of the inner shell of the cell at any part will cause a flow of the loose mobile material with which' the chamber or space within the walls or wall-linin gs or hollow door or ceiling is filled, and this ow cannot possibly be arrested withoutinstantly filling the hole.

which has been made, and abandoning the attempt. In case of any attempt to escape through the floor, the loose material will im mediately flow-into the apartment below, and

thus give warning of the attempt.

The invention in its various forms is applicable tothe construction of prisons of all descriptions, from the most cheap and simple jail to the' most extensive, elaborate, and costly penitentiary, as Well as bank-vaults, safe-deposits, and all other structures where it is desirable to prevent 'either ingress or egress.'

The following is claimed as new:

1 The method of preventing the pnncturin g of walls by the employment 0f a loose ormobile filling of sand, gravel, or other material within or between hollow walls or wall-linings or floors or ceilings.

-2. The combination of a hollow or double lwall or wall-lining or floor or ceiling, a mobile filling, and a supply-receptacle above, from which the spacel may be kept constantly lled.

3. The combination of the doubly flanged or grooved pillars, the double plates of the hollow wall or Wall-lining, and a suitable mobile material yfilling the .space between them, substantially as set forth. v

4. Theconstruction o f the frame-standards of the hollow walls o'r wall-linings, with latticed or other openings, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JAMES B. COOK;

JAMES W. HEATH.

, Witnesses:

JAS. L. EWIN,

,.CHAs. J. Goocu. 

